Goldendoodle Pros And Cons - Should You Get A Goldendoodle?

These days most people have seen or even know of someone with a Goldendoodle.

They are a large dog breed with mostly curly hair which, when it grows longer makes them look just like a great big teddy bear.

A Little Bit About Goldendoodles

While Goldendoodles are not an ‘official’ breed, they are greatly loved by their owners because of their quirky personality traits as well as the beautiful coats they sport.

Monica Dickens was the person responsible for breeding the first Goldendoodle. She is the great-granddaughter of the writer Charles Dickens.

The first Goldendoodle was born in 1969 although they did not become popular until the 1990’s.

Goldendoodles were originally developed as guide dogs for people who were visually impaired and had allergies to other dogs.

Because the Goldendoodle is bred from a Golden Retriever and a standard Poodle they do not shed as much as other breeds. They are hypoallergenic because they produce less dander.

The breed is relatively easy to train although this must be done regularly if you want a well-behaved pooch. Now for the Goldendoodles pros and cons.

7 Pros of Goldendoodles

Goldendoodles shed less than Golden Retrievers

While you may get some Goldens that shed a little, overall, they have inherited the non-shedding trait from the poodle side of the family.

This varies from dog to dog, but it is normally less than in any other breed. They do still need regular grooming and brushing to keep the coat in good condition.

Because there is less shedding, there is less dander from the coat, and this places them in the hypoallergenic category.

Check here to see Goldendoodles vs Golden Retrievers.

Goldendoodles can come in several different sizes

Miniature goldens can weigh up to 20 pounds and are suitable for apartments. Large Goldens can weigh up to 50 pounds and can be very boisterous and lively.

All Goldens can live with other dogs and even cats if they are introduced at an early age. The breed gets on well with kids.

Goldendoodles don’t make too much noise

As a breed, they are quiet unless there is something to warn you about. If your Golden feels that you are in danger, he will let you know right away.

Most Goldens won’t even bark if the dog next door is barking. Until he has a reason to bark, the Golden will sit quietly.

Goldendoodles can be entered in official competitions

While the breed is not recognised by associations such as the UKC, AKC and CKC you can still enter your Golden in a mixed-breed category for obedience and agility.

There is one exception to this rile which is that if you can produce the paperwork for both the dog’s parents the CKC will accept it as pedigreed.

Goldendoodles love to snuggle

Despite their size, this breed would gladly sit on your lap while you watch tv.

Snuggles are the name of the game with Goldens and they will ask for a head scratch any time of day. They will gladly sit on your feet or squeeze between the kids on the sofa.

Goldendoodles love water

Because of the parentage, it comes as no surprize that Goldens love water – any water.

Bath water, swimming pools, and rain puddles are all sources of attraction for them. Goldens are great swimmers and can get around at a good speed which is why they are also used as rescue dogs.

They are great companions for kids who love the water, and if you have a pool you can expect them to head there every chance they get.

Goldendoodles get on with kids and other pets

Although they have immense amounts of energy, they are still patient and gentle with smaller dogs and children.

The breed has a soft mouth which comes from the Retriever side of the family and even in rough play they are still gently.

They do need to be taught that nipping is not acceptable but if this is done from the start they soon learn.

If a Golden goes to live in a family where there are cats, they soon learn to accept the cat as part of the clan.

6 Cons of Goldendoodles

Get to know the F status of your Goldendoodle

The F letter tells you the lineage of the dog. An F1 Goldendoodle is a direct result of a Poodle and Golden Retriever.

F2 makes the dog a second generation Golden with both the parents being Goldendoodles. Goldens who are F1B have been backcrossed, which is often done to produce the softer curly coat.

This gives a mix of 72/25 poodle/retriever. An F2B golden will mean you have a 2/3 poodle mix.

Health issues

Although the breed is generally healthy and live to around 10-15 years the breed does have a tendency for hip dysplasia.

Both the breeds of Retriever and Poodle suffer from this and it is carried down to the offspring.

If you look for a Golden puppy you should make sure to see the Penn HIP or OFA paperwork before you buy or breed.

If the paperwork is not available, you should walk away as you will end up spending a fortune at the vet and eventually having your pet put to sleep.

Goldendoodles need plenty of exercise

They need about 60 minutes a day of walking and vigorous play. If Goldens are not exercised sufficiently they can become destructive because they are bored.

If a Golden cannot be walked outside, they can be trained to use a treadmill and walk themselves provided it is set at a steady rate.

When energy builds up inside the Golden it is often released in short bursts of frantic running, often in the house which is why the larger size does not do well in small houses.

They get separation anxiety

This breed can suffer from separation anxiety when the owner is away.

This may make them destructive. If they are left unattended in the house you may return to damaged furniture and broken dishes, not to mention chewed shoes and slippers.

The unsupervised Golden can even learn to open the fridge and help himself to lunch!

You can suffer from allergies to the breed

There are some people who can still suffer from allergies with a Golden. As the seasons change, they will shed, although not as much as other dogs.

If it is essential to have a non-shedding dog, then look for the B in the status as this will give a high poodle ratio.

They are expensive

Because Goldendoodles are becoming so popular they are quite pricey. In the US they can cost between $1,500 – $ 2,500.

This is even before you start paying vet bills and grooming fees. Any Golden who has hip dysplasia will cost even more at the vet.

Because of their size they can consume a good amount of food compared to a smaller dog.

Is a Goldendoodle the right dog for you?

The overall temperament of Goldendoodles is great, they make wonderful family dogs and adore nothing more than curling up with their humans.

They can be either small or large sized depending on the parentage and have beautiful coats is several lovely colours.

Goldens are very smart and will try to outwit you if hey can, they can be easily trained but need a good amount of exercise each day to stop them from getting bored and destructive.

This breed needs to be groomed frequently to keep the curly hair from matting. They are loving dogs and very even tempered, which makes they great with kids and other animals in the house.

Most Goldens love to play and will gladly catch the ball if it is thrown. They also love water so if there is a pool in the garden expect them to head that way as often as they can.

The typical Golden will only bark when he feels his human is in danger. If the post man is no threat the Golden may even forget manners and jump up for a sloppy kiss!

Because of the character, these dogs tolerate indignities well so if dressing the dog for Halloween is on the cards, he is likely to go along without too much objection, if the family is close by.

Goldendoodles Pros And Cons: Final thoughts

Goldendoodles are an amazing breed although may not be suitable for everyone. Not only are they expensive, they also need a decent amount of exercise per day.